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Nursing Home Association announces visitation restrictions

Alabama Nursing Home Association President & CEO Brandon Farmer announced Saturday new visitation restrictions designed to protect Alabama’s most vulnerable citizens from COVID-19. “With a national state of emergency declared by the President, the Alabama Nursing Home Association is urging all nursing homes in the state to follow the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ … Continued
March 14, 2020

Five central Alabama school systems closing immediately amid COVID outbreak

Five central Alabama public school systems have decided to close immediately as the numbers of coronavirus cases in the state continue to mount. Birmingham City Schools, Homewood City Schools, Oneonta City Schools, Vestavia Hills City Schools and Jefferson County schools are all closing immediately. Vestavia Hills City Schools statement on closure  “Vestavia Hills City Schools … Continued
March 14, 2020

State announces visitation changes at four veterans homes due to coronavirus

The Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs on Friday announced a change to its visitation policy at the state’s four veterans homes as the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 were announced the same day. “The new policy temporarily restricts routine visitations to those four facilities. Routine visits by non-employees, to include work conducted by volunteers, have … Continued
March 13, 2020

Seven coronavirus cases confirmed in Alabama

Updated March 14 at 6:50 p.m. to reflect the latest changes in numbers. Future updates will be posted here. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday declared a state of emergency as two confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, and three more preliminary cases, were announced throughout the day. By Friday night, a total of six … Continued
March 13, 2020

Alabama’s first coronavirus case identified as Maxwell Air Force Base worker

A civilian worker at Maxwell Air Force Base has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, becoming the state’s first confirmed case to date. The person returned home from traveling in Illinois, according to a press release from the base on Friday. The person is being treated and monitored by “off-base medical agencies.” “The civilian employee … Continued
March 13, 2020

Montgomery County person Alabama’s first confirmed coronavirus case

Alabama’s first confirmed case of a person with the novel coronavirus was discovered Friday morning, state officials said.  The person lives in Montgomery County and had traveled to another state that has a coronavirus outbreak, said State Public Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris in a press conference Friday. Harris didn’t say where the person had … Continued
March 13, 2020

Governor Ivey releases statement on Alabama’s first confirmed coronavirus case

Governor Kay Ivey on Friday, upon learning of Alabama’s first confirmed Coronavirus (COVID-19) case, released the following statement: “Along with my fellow Alabamians, I have closely monitored the rapidly changing events regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19). As a state, we have taken precautionary measures and made preparations in the case that the virus would eventually reach … Continued
March 13, 2020

Drive-thru coronavirus testing open in Birmingham, Bessemer

Note: This article is from March 13. New coronavirus testing resources are located on this page, which will be regularly updated. Two new drive-thru locations in Birmingham and Bessemer are accepting samples to be tested for the novel coronavirus at a Birmingham company’s lab, and can have results within four hours, according to the company. … Continued
March 13, 2020

Lack of coronavirus testing in Alabama, across U.S. concerning, says Doug Jones

A lack of testing for coronavirus in Alabama and across the country means we don’t know how widespread the deadly virus already is, said U.S. Sen. Doug Jones on Thursday.  Meanwhile, legislators in Montgomery on Thursday approved a $5 million appropriation to the Alabama Department of Public Health for “preparedness and response activities.”  Alabama Sen. … Continued
March 13, 2020